2011 February

Alternate Takes: K-12 Approaches to African-American Music on Film

Wednesday, February 9, 2011 4:30 – 6pm

This was a special Black History Month Teachers Rock exploring the legacy of African-American music and musicians on film. Participating educators discussed key films (screened in their entirety throughout the month) as well as Rock Hall educational models and content approaches. With subjects and performances ranging from the birth of the blues to the dawn of hip-hop, these films reveal a story often neglected or even ignored. Teachers learned how to bring this meaningful history into your own classroom.

Black History Month 2011:

Double Exposure: African American Music on Film

In celebration of Black History Month, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum presented a special film series, “Double Exposure: African American Music on Film,” which highlighted the central role of African Americans in the history of rock and roll. Selected films covered a wide range of musical styles, from the gospel roots of rock to hip hop, and featured legendary performers, including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees such as Bessie Smith, Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Curtis Mayfield, The Staples Singers, Run-D.M.C., Ike & Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, and Isaac Hayes. The films also reflected historical and cultural changes in African-American culture during the rock and roll era. The screenings included special introduction and discussion by scholars, filmmakers, and Rock Hall Education staff. All films were screened in the Rock Hall’s state-of-the-art Foster Theater and were FREE with a reservation.